On-Chip NRZ-to-PRZ Format Conversion Using Narrow-Band Silicon Microring Resonator-Based Notch Filters

We report experimental demonstration and modeling of all-optical on-chip non-return-to-zero (NRZ) to pseudo-return-to-zero (PRZ) format conversion using narrow-band silicon microring resonator-based notch filters. Our proof-of-principle experiment using a carrier-injection-based tunable silicon microring resonator demonstrates NRZ-to-PRZ conversion at 3.6 Gbit/s. Our Fourier-transform-based modeling reveals in detail the format conversion dependence on the microring resonance Q factor, extinction ratio, phase response, and NRZ signal transition times, assuming signal format conversion of 40 Gbit/s.